IGN TV: Obviously, at this point, you have so much on your plate. What was it about this show that made you say, “I need to make time for this. I want to go back to this” and return for 24: Live Another Day?
Howard Gordon: Honestly, it was almost like a bad joke — or a good joke. I had dinner with [Fox Networks Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer] Peter Rice, who mentioned very off-hand, “Are you doing the [24] movie?” He’s the boss, so he would know! I said, “You know, probably not…” It didn’t look like it was going to happen. He said, “Would you ever think of doing it as a limited series?” I said, “That’s a really interesting idea. I’m coincidentally having dinner with Kiefer on Wednesday” — it was, like, a Saturday night. I go, “I’ll talk about it with Kiefer.” Over dinner, we both said, “Nah, nah.” Then both of us, the next day, called each other. We just riffed like, “If we both did it, it would be this. What if it’s that?” Then I went to [20th Century Fox Television CEOs] Dana Walden and Gary Newman, and Dana and Gary said, “Let’s go over to [FOX Chairman of Entertainment] Kevin Reilly.” I just mulled on the idea for a little bit. Literally, she called Kevin, and Kevin said, “Come over!” And they said yes! But I said, “I’ll only do it if Evan and Manny [are involved] — and I can assemble the team.” We’re friends, so I knew their deals were coming up.

It was one of those things where, coming back to your question, everyone missed Jack and this show so much, even though four years ago, I would have bet the house that there was no way this moment would ever come. I was so happy, and we were all happy that we got out with our integrity. We were all very, very proud of the show. We had our bumps, we had our good seasons and our less good seasons, but by and large I think it was a very successful run creatively and one that ended fulfilling the promise that the show had in the beginning. We know we’re tempting fate at some level, but f**k it!

IGN: [Laughs] Right, right. That would help! When it comes to the Jack and Chloe dynamic, the final scene of the show was very tragic, but also touching and Jack was open with her in a way he usually isn’t. But it sounds like when we meet them again, it’s going to be very much the opposite of when we last saw them.
Gordon: It’s the first time between seasons that four years have elapsed. That’s a long time. Even between seasons [with the time jumps] — if you did the math, it’s probably 2027 or something like that! [Laughs] But all the characters have to progress along their own continuum, and Chloe’s had the kind of tragic upshot. Current events kind of gave us inspiration there too. We liked the idea of Chloe being a cross between Lisbeth Salander and Edward Snowden. That idea really got us psyched.

Check out the full interview at IGN which also discusses Audrey’s return, the writers being surprised that Heller was still alive, whether Aaron Pierce will return, and some juicy new details about Yvonne Strahovski’s character Kate Morgan. The Yvonne/Kate paragraph has some spoilers on the characters backstory.

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FOX has released an incredible 20 minute special preview for 24: Live Another Day titled “Jack is Back.” The video has loads of brand new footage and interviews with just about the entire cast and includes the first footage of Michelle Fairley as the main villain Margot (in what looks to be a standout role)…. View Article

New York Post has a nice piece on Yvonne Strahovski. Most of it is about her personal life but here’s the 24 related info. “You meet Kate at a point in her life when she’s feeling dejected and doesn’t have a lot to hold onto,” Strahovski says. “When Jack Bauer comes into the picture, and… View Article

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5 Comments

Joshua

I’d like to read about Audrey’s return but I don’t want the rest spoiled for me….. But I’m glad that came about the way it did. & there & his answer was simple they all missed Jack!!! That’s great cause I did to as I’m sure most of the fans did. This show needed another season I can’t believe they seemed to be okay with leaving season 8 as is. Sounds like up until that conversation they were going to leave fans hanging with season 8’s ending. & hopefully they will do more seasons & it will re-energize there creative idea’s & hopefully have 24 get this franchisablity they all keep suggesting. Including fox who has also suggested this. So maybe this will be the start of some new ideas for storylines among other possibility’s as well.

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